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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-AUG-01
In this interview Heckscher discusses John F. Kennedy [JFK] and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis as an “inspiration to cultural life”; Heckscher’s involvement in government affairs prior to becoming a Special Consultant to the President; the invitation of 168 artists to JFK’s 1961 inauguration and its impact; how Heckscher came to work for the White House; discussing Heckscher’s position with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.; the reasoning behind the creation of the new position of Special Consultant on the Arts and the favorable public reaction to it; enlarging the definition of “The Arts,” especially regarding architecture; Arthur Goldberg; the establishment of the Freedom Medal; creating the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts through executive order; personal impressions of JFK; setting up Heckscher’s office and staff; how Heckscher was meant to advise JFK and what his position entailed; the Cultural Center [Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]; conversations with JFK; Mrs. Kennedy’s expansive work for the arts; the arts as part of national policy; working with other White House staff members and other Departments; designing special postage stamps; what the President’s role in the arts should be; and the Fine Arts Commission, among other issues.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Walter W. Heller
JFKWHSFWWH-MF38-022
This folder contains material compiled by Walter W. Heller concerning legislation to establish a standby capital improvements program. Types of items include correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, and press releases. Related work products of the Council of Economic Advisers include a draft of a proposed bill to authorize a capital improvements program during periods of rising unemployment; a paper on "Output and Employment Effects of Stand-by Expenditures"; and a background memorandum jointly written with the Bureau of the Budget regarding the proposed standby capital improvements authority. Other materials of note are copies of the Congressional testimony of Heller, David E. Bell, Arthur J. Goldberg, Gerhard Colm, and Charles H. Stoddard; analysis of the inventory of federal construction projects and other work submitted pursuant to the President's economic message of 2 February 1961; and a memorandum on the 1962 economic situation by George Meany of the AFL-CIO.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-070-002
This folder contains material collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Bureau of the Budget. Topics include appropriations for the OCDM (Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization); the organization of civil defense programs; a budget outlook for 1962-1966; the construction of two new buildings in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.; and congressional actions on appropriation bills for 1962.